Denmark summons Russian envoy over airspace violation

<p id="content">Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin amid escalated tensions following the alleged incursion into the country's airspace by a Russian Su-27 fighter in the Baltic while in pursuit of a US Air Force B52 bomber.

According to NATO, the incursion on August 28 was the first of it kind in several years, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Completely unacceptable violation of Denmark's airspace by Russian Su-27 fighter. (I) will raise issue with Russian authorities to avoid repetition," Kofod tweeted on Tuesday, adding: "DK (Denmark) will always defend our airspace, insist on international law."

The Russian action prompted the immediate launch of the Danish Quick Reaction Alert aircraft to counter the violation, near the island of Bornholm, resulting in the lone Russian fighter to turn back before the interception.

Earlier yesterday, Minister of Defence Trine Bramsen called it an "unacceptable violation of Danish airspace".

The Russian Defence Ministry has however denied that the fighter jet violated the Danish airspace.

"On August 28, 2020, a Su-27 fighter from the air defence duty of the Baltic Fleet was raised to identify and prevent a US Air Force B-52H strategic bomber from violating the Russian state border," the Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The flight of the Russian Su-27 fighter, accompanied by an American bomber, was carried out over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea in strict accordance with international rules…, without violating the borders of other states."

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